Structured smoothing for superresolution of multispectral imagery based on registered panchromatic image

ABSTRACT

Method and system for creating a fused image from an image pair. The method includes obtaining ( 204 ) image data defining a first image of a panchromatic image type and a second image of a multi-spectral image type. The first image has a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution. The second image has a second spatial resolution which is lower than the first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than the first spectral resolution. The first image and the second image are fused ( 216 ) to initialize a fused image having the first spatial resolution and the second spectral resolution. A blurring function is used ( 220 ) to help form the fused image.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Statement of the Technical Field

The invention concerns image processing, and more particularly an image processing method which includes smoothing a fused image pair comprising a panchromatic image and a multispectral image.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the field of remote image sensing, two common types of images include panchromatic imagery and multi-spectral imagery. Panchromatic imagery is imagery that is obtained by a remote sensing device with a sensor designed to detect electromagnetic energy in only one very broad band. This one very broad band typically includes most of the wavelengths of visible light. Panchromatic imagery has the advantage of offering very high spatial resolution. In contrast, multi-spectral imagery is typically created from several narrow spectral bands within the visible light region and the near infrared region. Consequently, a multi-spectral image is generally comprised of two or more image data sets, each created by sensors responsive to different portions of the optical spectrum (e.g., blue, green, red, infrared). Multi-spectral images are advantageous because they contain spectral information which is not available from a similar panchromatic image. However, multi-spectral images typically have a lower spatial resolution as compared to panchromatic images.

If is often desirable to enhance a multi-spectral image with the high resolution of a panchromatic image. In order to achieve this result, it is known in the art that the images can be combined or “fused”. In general, there are two key problems that must be solved in order to accomplish this fusing process. The first problem concerns a need for registration of the two images. The registration process involves a determination of where each pixel in the panchromatic image maps to in the multi-spectral image. This process must generally be accomplished with great accuracy for best results. For example, it is desirable for each pixel in the pan image to be mapped to the multi-spectral image with an accuracy of less than 0.1 panchromatic pixel radius. A number of conventional methods exist for achieving this mapping. The second problem that must be overcome when performing the fusing process is to ensure that the radiance values of the fused image remain consistent with (1) the original multi-spectral image and (2) the original panchromatic image.

Conventional algorithms utilized for performing the image fusion process suffer from several limitations. For example, they generally make simplistic assumptions about the manner in which the high spatial resolution pixels in the panchromatic images should be combined or fused with the high spectral resolution pixels of the multi-spectral image. Typically, these include (1) an assumption that high spatial resolution pixels from the panchromatic image down-sample to the low spatial resolution of the multi-spectral image as a box average; and (2) an assumption that the pixels from the panchromatic image are evenly weighted averages of red, green and blue spectral bands.

Some algorithms have also adopted a slightly more sophisticated approach with regard to the process of down-sampling pixels from the high resolution of the panchromatic image to the relatively low resolution of the multi-spectral image. For example, in some algorithms, the high spatial resolution pixels from the panchromatic image are not merely down-sampled as a box average. Instead, a point spread function (PSF) is used to determine the manner in which the high spatial resolution pixels from the panchromatic image are down-sampled to the pixels consistent with the multi-spectral image. The PSF (sometimes referred to as instrument line shape) is a characterization of the manner in which a point of light is blurred or diffused by a sensor and its associated optics. Accordingly, knowledge regarding the PSF of a sensor can be useful for down-sampling the high spatial resolution pixels from the panchromatic image to the multi-spectral image. In particular, the PSF can be used to define a weighting system for combining individual ones of a plurality of high resolution pixels to form a single larger pixel at lower resolution. However, the PSF in conventional algorithms has merely been approximated based on sensor geometry data, such as aperture, focal plane resolution, and so on. As such, the PSF that is used is not necessarily an accurate representation of the true PSF for a sensor system. Further, a pre-computed PSF will not contain information specific to a given image pair such as residual shift error in the registration and artifacts of image preprocessing.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved method for fusing an image pair comprising a multi-spectral image and a panchromatic image

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a method and system for creating a fused image from an image pair comprising a high resolution panchromatic image and lower resolution multi-spectral image. The method begins by obtaining image data defining a first image of a panchromatic image type and a second image of a multi-spectral image type. The first image has a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution. The second image has a second spatial resolution which is lower than the first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than the first spectral resolution.

The method also includes fusing the first image and the second image to initialize a fused image having the first spatial resolution and the second spectral resolution. Thereafter, the point spread function and the set of weights are used to determine scaling factors for scaling radiance value of pixels defining the fused image in accordance with radiance value of pixels forming the first image and the second image. This step involves using the point spread function and the set of weights to down-sample the fused image to each of the first spectral resolution and the second spatial resolution. The scaling step further includes scaling the pixel radiance values of the fused image to be consistent with the pixel radiance values of the second image, blurring the fused image, and scaling the pixel radiance values of the fused image to be consistent with the pixel radiance value of the first image.

The blurring process includes blurring a pixel comprising the fused image based on radiance values of pixels comprising the first image. In particular, the blurring process includes an anisotropic blurring of the pixel comprising fused image. For example, the blurring step advantageously includes selecting a pixel from the numerous pixels comprising the fused image. The selected pixel will have a geometric location in the fused image. Thereafter a corresponding pixel in the first image can be identified which has a geometric location within the first image that is the same as a geometric location of the pixel in the fused image. A blurred radiance value is calculated for the pixel based on a radiance value of at least one adjacent pixel that is adjacent to the corresponding pixel. This blurring step is advantageously repeated for each of the pixels comprising the fused image.

More particularly, a blurred radiance value is calculated based on a radiance value of a pair of the adjacent pixels. The pair of adjacent pixels is preferably selected to include pixels located on opposing sides of the corresponding pixel and aligned with the corresponding pixel in a first defined direction. The blurring step further also includes subsequently recalculating the blurred radiance value based on at least a second pair of adjacent pixels aligned with the corresponding pixel in at least a second defined direction different from the first direction. For example, the blurred radiance value of the center pixel is subsequently recalculated for each of four different radial directions relative to the center pixel. Each time the calculation is performed in a different direction, the blurred radiance value can be further modified until a final value blurred radiance value is achieved. According to one aspect of the invention, the four radial directions are selected to be angularly spaced from one another by an equal amount. The entire blurring process is advantageously repeated for each pixel in the fused image.

According to another aspect, the invention includes a computer processing system programmed with a suitable set of instructions for creating a fused image from an image pair comprising a high resolution panchromatic image and lower resolution multi-spectral image. The system includes a data store for storing image data defining a first image and image data defining a second image. The first image type is a panchromatic image type and the second image type is a multi-spectral image type. The first image has a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution. The second image has a second spatial resolution lower than the first spatial resolution. The second image also has a second spectral resolution higher than the first spectral resolution. The computer processing system is programmed for fusing the first and second images as described above. Further, the computer processing system is programmed for performing the blurring process as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be described with reference to the following drawing figures, in which like numerals represent like items throughout the figures, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer processing device that is useful for understanding the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a process for fusing a panchromatic image with a multi-spectral image.

FIG. 3 is a plot showing an example of a spectral response of sensors used to create a panchromatic image and a multi-spectral image.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual illustration showing how spectral weights are used in a downsample processing of a multi-spectral image for decreasing the spectral resolution of the multi-spectral image.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual illustration showing how a point spread function is used in a downsample processing of a panchromatic image for decreasing the spatial resolution of the panchromatic image.

FIG. 6 is a two-dimensional graph which shows an example of a point spread function.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual drawing which represents pixels comprising a portion of a panchromatic image and a fused image.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart that is useful for understanding a blurring process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawings, in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention, may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. For example, the present invention can be embodied as a method, a data processing system, or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention can take the form as an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or a hardware/software embodiment.

The present invention can be realized in one computer system. Alternatively, the present invention can be realized in several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software can be a general-purpose computer system. The general-purpose computer system can have a computer program that can control the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention can take the form of a computer program product on a computer-usable storage medium (for example, a hard disk or a CD-ROM). The computer-usable storage medium can have computer-usable program code embodied in the medium. The term computer program product, as used herein, refers to a device comprised of all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein. Computer program, software application, computer software routine, and/or other variants of these terms, in the present context, mean any expression, in any language, code, or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code, or notation; or b) reproduction in a different material form.

Embodiment of the present invention will now be described with respect to FIG. 1 through FIG. 6. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus relating to image fusion functions including obtaining image data, registering the image data, determining calibration coefficients, and applying the calibration coefficients to specific image data. Accordingly, an embodiment including the listed functions is discussed further below.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is provided a block diagram of a computer processing device 100. Computer processing device 100 is comprised of a system interface 112, a user interface 102, a central processing unit 104, a system bus 106, a memory 108 connected to and accessible by other portions of the computer processing device 100 through system bus 106, and hardware entities 110 connected to system bus 106. At least some of the hardware entities 110 perform actions involving access to and use of memory 108, which may be a RAM, a disk driver, and/or a CD-ROM.

User interface 102 facilitates a user action to create a request to access and launch a calibration application and/or a fusion application. User interface 102 may comprise a display screen, speakers, and an input means, such as a keypad, directional pad, a directional knob, and/or a microphone.

System interface 112 allows the computer processing device 100 to communicate with external computer processing devices through the internet, LAN, or WAN. System interface 112 also allows the computer processing device 100 to send and retrieve data from one or more external databases.

Memory 108 can include I/O device driver program code and operating system program code. Memory 108 can also include image data, calibration applications program code, and fusion applications program code. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the image data can include high spectral data such as a multi-spectral image. The image data can also include high spatial resolution such as a panchromatic image.

Hardware entitles 110 may include microprocessors, ASICs, and other hardware. Hardware entities 110 may include microprocessors programmed with an I/O device drivers and an operating system. Hardware entities 110 may also include a microprocessor programmed with a computer software routine for performing an image fusion process. The image fusion process will be described in greater detail below in relation to FIG. 2. Hardware entities 110 may further include a microprocessor programmed with a fusion application for combining two or more images to provide increased image content.

These skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer processing device architecture illustrated in FIG. 1 is one possible example of a computer processing device. However, the invention is not limited in this regard and any other suitable computer processing device architecture can also be used without limitation.

The present invention will now be described in greater detail in relation to the flowchart in FIG. 2. The image fusion process disclosed herein is useful for fusing a panchromatic and multi-spectral image pair. It should be appreciated, however, that the process disclosed in FIG. 2 is provided for purposes of illustration only and that the present invention is not limited in this regard, it should be understood that computer program code for carrying out the processes and routines of the present invention can be written in an object orientated programming language such as Java®, Smalltalk, C++, or Visual Basic. However, the computer program code for carrying out the present invention can also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as “C” programming language.

As used herein, the terms “fusing” or “fused image” respectively refers to a process, or an image obtained from such a process, in which a high resolution panchromatic image is used to sharpen the resolution of the relatively low resolution multi-spectral imagery. The term “image pair” refers to a high resolution panchromatic image and a relatively low resolution multi-spectral image of the same surface or subject matter. Thus, the panchromatic image and the multi-spectral image are each comprised of image data that is closely related.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a process 200 can begin in step 202 and continue to step 204. In step 204 image data is obtained for an image pair comprised of a multi-spectral image and a panchromatic image. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a fused image will be of little value if the surface imaged by a panchromatic image does not significantly overlap with the surface imaged by the multispectral image. Accordingly, it should be understood that the image pairs referred to herein are advantageously selected to be of a common subject matter or common surface area. For example, the images can be of a common geographic area of the earth.

The image pairs described herein are further assumed to have certain other characteristics. During the time between collection of the panchromatic and multi-spectral image, moving objects such as vehicles and ocean waves are not likely to be registered correctly between the two images, leading to error in registration and calibration. If the time between the acquisitions of the images is more than a few minutes, the change in position of the sun will result in significant changes in shadows and variations in the illumination of the surface based on how well the surface normals are aligned with the sun. This can result in significant calibration and registration errors. If days pass between the collection of panchromatic and multi-spectral image, there can be significant changes in atmospheric conditions. If months pass, there can be significant changes in the surface properties due to ice, snow, rain, leaves falling from the trees, new growth. Accordingly, it is generally preferred that the panchromatic and multi-spectral image comprising each image pair are acquired from nearly the same position so as to reduce such errors. This significantly simplifies the registration process to little more than shift, scale, and rotation. The registration process is discussed in more detail in relation to step 206.

It will be appreciated that the panchromatic and multi-spectral image pair are preferably acquired within a very short time frame of each other. For example, each image is advantageously acquired within one minute of the other. Still, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be utilized in connection with image pairs that do not satisfy these criteria, with degraded results. For example, the process can be used for image pairs obtained with different sensors platforms at approximately the same time.

In step 204, the image data can be processed by control processing unit 104 and stored in memory 108. The image data includes pixel data. Control processing unit 104 can be configured for populating memory 108 in a table format with such pixel data. The pixel data for the multi-spectral image data can include each pixel's electromagnetic wavelength characteristic, location on a grid, and radiance value. The pixel data associated with a panchromatic image can also be processed by control processing unit 104 and stored in memory 108. The pixel data for the panchromatic image can include radiance data for each pixel associated with the panchromatic image. Control processing unit 104 can be configured for populating memory 108 in accordance with a table format such that the panchromatic image data is associated with pixel locations on a grid.

Once the images are obtained, the process can continue with step 206. Step 206 concerns registration of the data for the at least two images. Techniques for registering different sets of image data are well known to persons skilled in the art. Thus, such techniques will not be described in detail herein. However, if should be appreciated that any such technique known in the art can be used with the present invention.

In general, the registration step 206 involves a determination of where each point in the panchromatic image maps to in the multi-spectral image. The registration process must generally be accomplished with great accuracy for best results. A number of conventional methods exist for achieving this mapping. Typically, they involve selecting a number of points in one image, finding where they map to in the other image, and then optimizing the coefficients of a transform. This is usually a least squares error solution that permits one to obtain a set of coefficients that minimize the squared error of mapping points from one image to another. For best results in the fusing process, the panchromatic image is preferably mapped to the multi-spectral image with an accuracy defined by a error distance which is less than a dimension defined by 0.1 panchromatic pixel.

The registration process of step 206 determines the mapping of points from the coordinates of the panchromatic image to the coordinates of the multispectral image. This mapping can be as simple as a linear transformation of the form x1=a x2+b y2*x0 or a complex transformation modeling the geometry of both sensors and the surface imaged. As noted above, such techniques are well known in the art.

After registering the image data in step 206, the process continues on to step 210 for determining certain calibration values. These calibration values include (1) a set of weights which should be applied to the radiance values for the bands comprising the multi-spectral image so that they accurately correspond to the radiance values in the pixels of the panchromatic image; and (2) a point spread function (PSF) that accurately defines the manner in which radiance values for a plurality of pixels forming the panchromatic image should be combined to form a single radiance value of a single (lower spatial resolution) pixel of the multi-spectral image.

Before discussing the steps necessary to obtain the calibration values described above, it is helpful to first consider why these calibration values are necessary. As used herein, the term “radiance value” generally refers to a digital value assigned to a pixel which is intended to represent the intensify of light energy received by a sensor at the location defined by that pixel. In this regard, it should be understood that these radiance values may be scaled differently in two different sensors. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the radiance values from the two different sensors must somehow be adjusted or scaled by using suitable weighting factors before the radiance values from the two different sensors can be combined together in a meaningful way.

In the case of calibration values (1) it must be understood that the complete multi-spectral image of a particular scene is actually comprised of several image bands. In each of the several image bands the sensor is responsive to a very limited range of optical wavelengths. This concept is illustrated in FIG. 3 which shows curves 301, 302, 303, 304 which represent a sensor's response to four different bands of optical wavelengths. The sensor essentially creates one image for each optical band represented by the response curves 301, 302, 303, 304. In this example, a single multi-spectral image would be comprised of images obtained by the sensor using these four spectral bands. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different sensor systems can have more or fewer optical bands. In contrast, the panchromatic image is a single image which is obtained by a sensor that is responsive to a much wider range of optical wavelengths. In FIG. 3, the response of the panchromatic sensor is illustrated by curve 300.

FIG. 3, it can be seen that the response curves 301, 302, 303, 304 of the sensor for the various multi-spectral bands can be very different as compared to the response curve 300 of the panchromatic sensor for the same wavelengths. These differences in the responsiveness of the sensor to the various optical bands will result in scaling differences as between the radiance values associated with each pixel for the multi-spectral image as compared to the panchromatic image.

The calibration values (1) are used for scaling the radiance values for each pixel as measured by the multi-spectral sensor to correspond to the scaling of radiance values resulting from the panchromatic sensor. For example, consider the spectral response represented by curves 300 and 301 at 0.5 μm. The curve 301 has a spectral response of approximately 1.0 whereas the spectral response of the panchromatic sensor shows an average spectral response in the range of about 0.35. Ignoring for the moment the response of curve 302 in the wavelength range defined by curve 301, the radiance values for pixels in a multi-spectral image using a sensor having the characteristics of response curve 301 would likely need to be scaled by a weighting value of about 0.35 in order for such radiance values to be properly calibrated to those values measured by a sensor having the response indicated by curve 300. In practice, proper spectral calibration would require that the pixel radiance values associated with each spectral band in FIG. 3 would need to be added together to obtain a total radiance value that is properly scaled to the radiance values obtained using a sensor having the response defined by curve 300. This process is illustrated in FIG. 4.

Mathematically, the foregoing process can be expressed as follows in equation (1):

$P_{i,j} = {{\sum\limits_{\lambda}{W_{\lambda}M_{i,j,\lambda}}} + P_{ij}}$ Where:

-   P_(i,j) is the pan radiance of each down-sampled pixel; -   W_(λ) is the spectral weight for each of the spectral bands; -   M_(i,jλ) is the radiance value for each pixel for each spectral band     comprising the multi-spectral image; and -   P₀ is a constant offset value.

Turning now to FIG. 5, it can be observed that the set of calibration values (2) as referenced above involves spatial scaling rather than spectral scaling. Spatial down-sampling involves down-sampling of radiance values of a plurality of high resolution pixels p₀₀, p₀₁, p₁₀, p₁₁ from the panchromatic image to determine a single radiance value for a single lower resolution pixel. A simple averaging process of the radiance values from the high resolution pixels will not give an accurate result because it does not properly account for the point spread function (PSF) associated with the optics, sensor, and other processing that may have been performed to generate the panchromatic image.

The PSF can be thought of as a mathematical function or table based characterization of the blurring that occurs to a point of light as it processed by the optics, sensor, and other image processing functions associated with the creation of the panchromatic image. FIG. 6 is a graphical representation of an example point spread function that is useful for understanding this concept. An accurate characterization or representation of the PSF can allow radiance values for different, high-resolution pixels within a group of pixels to more accurately be down-sampled to a single larger pixel. This is conceptually illustrated in FIG. 5, which shows a set of four high-resolution pixels being down-sampled to a single larger lower resolution pixel. The PSF represented by ψ_(x) operates as a selective weighting factor on each of the high resolution pixels p₀₀, p₀₁, p₁₀, p₁₁ to more accurately down-sample the radiance values of these pixels to a single value associated with a larger pixel P. More particularly, the radiance values for the pixels of the panchromatic image are convolved with the PSF to determine a down-sampled value for a single larger, lower resolution pixel.

The foregoing process can be mathematically expressed in Equation (2) as:

$P = {\sum\limits_{i,j}{p_{i,j}\Psi_{i,j}}}$ where;

-   P is the radiance value of the spatially down-sampled pixel. -   p_(i,j) is the radiance value of a high resolution pixel comprising     the panchromatic image; and -   Ψ_(i,j) is the point spread function or PSF.

Equations (1) and (2) represent two ways of generating a down-sampled (lower resolution) panchromatic image. One approach begins with the multi-spectral image and the other approach begins with the panchromatic image. However, both approaches yield a panchromatic image. Accordingly, the foregoing Equations (1) and (2) can be used together to calculate the actual values for W_(λ) (the spectral weights for each of the spectral bands) and Ψ_(ij) (the point spread function or PSF). For each down-sampled pixel, we have Equation (3):

${\sum\limits_{i,j}{p_{i,j}\Psi_{i,j}}} = {P = {{\sum\limits_{\lambda}{W_{\lambda}M_{\lambda}}} + P_{0}}}$ Where:

-   P_(j) is the pan radiance of each down-sampled pixel; -   W_(λ) is are the spectral weights for each of the spectral bands; -   M_(λ) is the radiance value for each pixel for each spectral band     comprising the multi-spectral image; -   P₀ is a constant offset value -   p_(ij) is the radiance value of a high resolution pixel comprising     the panchromatic image; and -   Ψ_(i,j) is the point spread function or PSF.

Using the foregoing Equation (3), a matrix equation can be assembled for calculating the values W_(λ) (the spectral weights for each of the spectral bands) and Ψ_(ij) (the point spread function).

We can rewrite equation (3), a linear combination of known intensities and unknown weights, as a linear system of equations for all pixels associated with the multi-spectral image in matrix from as the following Ax=b  Equation (4) where A is the matrix populated by the specified radiance values from the panchromatic and multi-spectral images, x is a vector of unknowns (the PSF and spectral weights), and b is the vector of numerical constants (e.g. 0, 1.) The matrix equation (4) can thus be written as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {{{\begin{matrix} 1 & \cdots & 1 & 0 & \cdots & 0 & 0 \\ p_{0,0} & \cdots & p_{n,n} & {- M_{0}} & \cdots & {- M_{b}} & {- 1} \\ \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots & \vdots \end{matrix}}*{\begin{matrix} \Psi \\ W \\ P_{0} \end{matrix}}} = {\begin{matrix} 1 \\ 0 \\ \vdots \end{matrix}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu}(5)} \end{matrix}$

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the first n×n columns of the matrix are related to the portions of the high resolution panchromatic pixels which are modulated by the PSF. These values are the first n×n unknowns in the vector multiplied by the matrix. The next group of columns of the matrix are the negative of the MSI radiance values. These values are modulated by the spectral weights W and represent the next group of unknowns in the vector multiplied by the matrix. The last column of the matrix is a constant −1 for all values except the first row This −1 value is used to account for the constant offset P₀, and represents the last unknown in the vector multiplied by the matrix.

The first row of the matrix equation imposes the constraint that n×n elements of the PSF sums to 1, which is a defining characteristic of a point-spread function. In this regard if may be noted that the first row of the constant vector on the far right of equation (5) is shown to have a value of 1. Also, in the first row of the matrix on the far left of equation (5), the values in the first group of columns are set to 1 whereas the values in the first row of the remaining columns are set to 0. These values are chosen in this way so as to select the first n×n unknowns which are the elements of the PSF.

The second row of the matrix equation enforces the requirement that the high resolution panchromatic radiance values spectrally down-sampled by the PSF (p_(0,0) . . . p_(n,n)), equal the spectrally down-sampled MSI radiance values (−M₀ . . . −M_(b)). The zero value in the second row of the constant vector on the far right of equation (5) reflects this balance. The structure of the second row is repeated as a separate row in the matrix equation for each pixel in the MSI image. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a given row of this matrix reduces to Equation (3) for a specific pixel of the multi-spectral image. p _(0,0)Ψ_(0,0) + . . . +p _(n,n)Ψ_(n,n) −M ₀ W ₀ − . . . −M _(b) W _(b) −P ₀=0

Referring again to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the process continues in step 212 by solving the matrix Equation (4) to determine the PSF weighting factors Ψ_(i,j) and the spectral calibration weighting factors W_(λ), including a constant offset P₀. The system of equations defined by matrix equation (4) is typically over determined due to the large number of pixels in the multi-spectral image and the relatively few unknown weights being sought. The solution to the equation is found by using conventional techniques, such as the well known least-squares method, [A_(t)A]x=A_(t)b

Where multiplying from the left by the transpose of the matrix results in a symmetric matrix equation. There are many well know methods for efficiently solving matrix equations of this form. Since these techniques are well known in the art, they will not be described in detail here.

After the PSF and weighting factors for spectral calibration have been calculated, the process continues on to step 216. In step 216 a fused image is created. The fused image created in step 216 is not the final fused image created by the process in FIG. 2. Instead, the fused image created in step 216 can be thought of as a preliminary estimation or a starting point that is useful for further processing described below. The fused image is created in step 216 by up-sampling the multi-spectral image to the spatial resolution of the panchromatic image. This up-sampling process in step 216 is actually comprised of several intermediate steps 232 through 239 which are presented in FIG. 2B.

Referring now to FIG. 2B, it can be observed that the process described in step 216 can begin with step 232. In step 232, the registration data from step 206 is used to perform a mapping function. This mapping function involves mapping a center point of each pixel associated with the multi-spectral image to a corresponding location on the panchromatic image. There are many conventional mapping techniques that can be used for this process. Many of the pixel centers from the multi-spectral image will not be precisely aligned with the pixel locations of the panchromatic image. Accordingly, step 234 is an interpolation step for determining radiance values at panchromatic pixels located between the centers of pixels associated with the multi-spectral image. For such panchromatic pixel locations that are not exactly aligned with the centers of mapped multi-spectral image pixels, interpolated radiance values are computed. The result is to create a fused image band “N” corresponding to the multi-spectral image band “N”. In step 238, a determination is made as to whether a fused image band has been created for each of the multi-spectral image bands. If not, the value of “N” is incremented in step 329 and the process is repeated for the next multi-spectral image band. When fused image bands have been created for each multi-spectral image, the initialization of the fused image is completed and the process returns to step 218 in FIG. 2A.

In step 218, the process continues by constraining the radiance values of the pixels forming the fused image so that they are consistent with the radiance values of the multi-spectral image. In this context, the values are said to be “consistent” if the radiance values of pixels from the fused image band, when down-sampled to the spatial resolution of the multi-spectral image, are equal to the radiance values for pixels at the same geometric location in the corresponding multi-spectral image band. The process of obtaining consistency as referred to in step 218 is actually comprised of several steps, 240 through 244, as shown in FIG. 2C. In step 240, the PSF calculated in step 212 is used to down-sample each fused image band to the spatial resolution of the multi-spectral image. In particular, this down-sampling process can be performed using Equation 2. The down-sampling process produces radiance values for the down-sampled pixels at the spatial resolution of the multi-spectral image. Initially, however, the radiance values for the down-sampled pixels generally will not match the radiance values for the corresponding pixels of the multi-spectral image. Accordingly, in step 244, the radiance values for pixels of the fused image bands are adjusted. In particular, the radiance values of pixels from the fused image band are adjusted so that when they are down-sampled to the spatial resolution of the multi-spectral image, the pixel radiance values of the down-sampled pixels will more closely match the pixel radiance values for the corresponding multi-spectral image band at the same geometric location in the image. The various steps involved in this process are described in more detail in FIG. 2D.

Referring now to FIG. 2D, it can be observed that step 244 is comprised of steps 260 through 268. In step 260, a first fused image band “M” is selected. In step 262, the process continues by calculating a scaling factor for each fused image band pixel. The scaling factor is preferably determined based on a ratio of the radiance value for each pixel of the multi-spectral image in band “M,” to the radiance value of a corresponding pixel down-sampled from the fused image band “M”. In step 264, the scaling factor is applied to the pixels of the fused image band “M” that were down-sampled in step 240. In step 266, a determination is made as to whether the scaling has been completed for all fused image bands. If not, the fused image band “M” is incremented in step 268 and the process returns to step 262 to calculate scaling values for the next band. If scaling values have been calculated for all fused image bands, then the process returns to step 220 in FIG. 2A.

In step 220, each band comprising the fused image is spatially blurred. Blurring is a common technique used in image processing and there are many conventional methods by which spatial blurring can be performed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, blurring is performed utilizing an anisotropic blurring technique. The process is described in greater detail in relation to FIGS. 7 and 8.

After the blurring function is applied to the image in step 220, the process in FIG. 2A continues on to step 222. In step 222, the radiance values of the fused image are adjusted so that they are consistent with the pixel values of the panchromatic image. In other words, the fused image pixel values are adjusted so that, when spectrally down-sampled to the panchromatic image, the resulting down-sampled pixels have radiance values that are consistent with the pixel values of the panchromatic image. This process is actually comprised of several steps which are disclosed in further detail in relation to FIGS. 2E and 2F.

Referring now to FIG. 2E, the process can continue with step 246. In step 246, the spectral weights previously calculated in step 212 are used to down-sample the fused image hands to the spectral resolution of the panchromatic image. This process is performed using Equation 1.

The down-sampling process produces radiance values for the down-sampled pixels at the spectral resolution of the panchromatic image. Initially, however, the radiance values for the down-sampled pixels generally will not be consistent with the radiance values for the corresponding pixels of the panchromatic image. In this context, the values are said to be “consistent” if the radiance values of pixels from the fused image bands, when down-sampled to the spectral resolution of the multi-spectral image, are equal to the radiance values for pixels at the same geometric location in the corresponding panchromatic image. Accordingly, in step 250, the radiance values for pixels of the fused image bands are adjusted to obtain such consistency, in particular, the radiance values of pixels from the fused image band are adjusted so that when they are down-sampled to the spectral resolution of the panchromatic image, the pixel radiance values of the down-sampled pixels will more match the pixel radiance values for the panchromatic image. The various steps involved in this process are described in more detail in FIG. 2F.

Referring now to FIG. 2F, step 250 will be described in greater detail in steps 270 through 278. In step 270, a first fused image band “M” is selected. In step 272, the process continues by calculating a scaling factor for each fused image band pixel. The scaling factor is preferably determined based on a ratio of the radiance value for each pixel of the panchromatic image to the radiance value of a corresponding pixel down-sampled from the fused image bands. In step 274, the scaling factor is applied to the pixels of the fused image band “M” that was down-sampled in step 246. In step 276, a determination is made as to whether the scaling has been completed for all fused image bands. If not, the fused image band “M” is incremented in step 278 and the process returns to step 272 to calculate scaling values for the next band. If scaling values have been calculated for all fused image bands, then the process returns to step 224 in FIG. 2A.

In step 224, a determination is made as whether the radiance values of the fused image have converged. This determination can involve a determination as to whether the adjusted radiance values of the fused image in step 218 are sufficiently close in value to the adjusted radiance values of the fused image obtained in step 222. If a sufficiently high degree of convergence is not found in step 224, then the process can return to step 218 through 222 for further adjustment of the fused image pixel radiance values.

The blurring step 220, as described above in relation to process 200, will now be disclosed in greater detail. Typically, spatial blurring is a convolution process. Convolution is the modification of a pixel's value on the basis of the values of neighboring pixels. For example, in a basic box-blurring process, images are convolved by multiplying each pixel and its neighbors by a numerical matrix, called a kernel. For example, a 3×3 matrix could be used for this purpose. This matrix is essentially applied to localized groups of adjacent pixels in the image. For example, the matrix can be applied to a 3×3 group of pixels which includes a total of nine (9) pixels, in the convolution process, each pixel in the group is multiplied by the appropriate matrix value, the total is summed. A new image is created in which a central pixel in the group is replaced using the summed value. The process then continues with the next group of pixels in the original image. Each pixel in the new image is eventually computed using the values obtained by the blurring process as described herein. The purpose of such conventional blurring is to smooth the image. Notably, in this type of blurring, all pixels are blurred to the same extent, using the same matrix.

While the foregoing blurring technique is useful in many applications, it is not ideally suited for the process effusing a panchromatic image and a multi-spectral image as described herein. A conventional box-blurring process does provide a degree of blurring within regions of an image that comprise various objects in the image. However, it has the negative effect of smoothing across boundaries which separate one object from another object within the image. This is not desirable and is not necessary given the high spatial resolution of the panchromatic image. Accordingly, a preferred blurring process of the present invention performs the blurring in a way that provides a greater blurring of pixels within defined regions of the image, and provides only minimal amounts blurring of pixels extending across boundaries between various regions of the image. For example, blurring of pixels that are within a region of the image showing a body of water can be greater as compared to blurring of pixels at a boundary region between the body of water and the surrounding land or vegetation.

In the present invention, the high spatial resolution of the panchromatic image is preferably utilized to identify the boundary of various regions within the fused image. Abrupt changes in the radiance values of adjacent pixels in the panchromatic image are used to indicate boundaries or borders of different materials appearing in the fused image. Where those abrupt changes occur, the pixels of the fused image are blurred to a minimal extent. Conversely, where the adjacent pixels in the panchromatic image have similar radiance values, then the pixels of the fused image are blurred to a greater extent. Moreover, this process can be performed using a blurring technique that is directionally dependent. The details of a preferred blurring technique for use with the fusion process will now be described in greater detail in relation to FIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a drawing which represents pixels comprising a portion of a panchromatic image 702 and a fused image 706. The blurring process will be described in relation to a group or block of pixels 704, 708 that is three (3) pixels wide and three (3) pixels high. For the purposes of this discussion if will be assumed that the block of pixels 704 from the panchromatic image is from the same geometric portion of the image scene as the block of pixels 708. In the case of the fused image 706, the radiance values of the pixels are identified as I_(c), I_(+1(0°)), I_(−1(0°)), I_(+1(45 °)), I_(−1(45°)), I_(+1(90°)), I_(−1(90°)), I_(+1(135°)), I_(−1(135°)), In the 0° direction, the two pixels adjacent to the center pixel I_(c) would be I_(+1(0°)), I_(−1(0°)). In the 45° direction, the two adjacent pixels would be I_(+1(45°)), I_(−1(45°)). In the 90° direction, the two adjacent pixels would be I_(+1(90°)), I_(−1(90°)). Finally, in the 135° direction, the two adjacent pixels would be I_(+1(135°)), I_(−(135°)). A similar naming convention is used in the case of the panchromatic image 702. The radiance values of these pixels are identified as P_(c), P_(+1(0°)), P_(−1(0°)), P_(+1(45°)), P_(−1(45°)), P_(+1(90°)), P_(−1(90°)), P_(+1(135°)), P_(−1(135°)).

In FIG. 7, the blocks of pixels 704, 708 can be viewed as comprising a center pixel and its eight nearest neighbors. The smoothing process essentially involves four smoothing operations on the center pixel I_(c). All smoothing operations preferably use a conventional Sine(x) function for smoothing operations. The Sine(x) function is well known in the art as being useful for such smoothing operations. Significantly, the weighting of the Sine(x) function is determined by the radiance values of the panchromatic pixels 704.

According to a preferred embodiment, the smoothing operation is performed on the center pixel I_(c) in each of four directions defined as 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. In general, if the value of the center panchromatic pixel P_(c) is the same or nearly the same as the average of the adjacent panchromatic pixels aligned in a particular direction, then a conclusion can be drawn that the center fused pixel P_(c) and its adjacent pixels are within a common region of the image, meaning that the area is comprised of the same object or material. From this, it can be inferred that the center fused pixel I_(c) and its adjacent pixels (taken in the same direction) are within a common region of the image. Accordingly, maximal blurring is performed to I_(c). Conversely, if the value of the center panchromatic pixel P_(c) is significantly different from the average of the two adjacent pixels in the panchromatic image, then minimal blurring of the center fused pixel I_(c) is preferable. The process is repeated for each of the four directions described above. The effective result is an anisotropic blurring of the fused image 706 which advantageously results in smoothing of that image within regions, but not across boundaries.

Mathematically, the foregoing blurring operation can be described as follows:

$\begin{matrix} {I_{c} = {{I_{c}\left( {1 - w} \right)} + {w\frac{\begin{matrix} {{I_{{+ 3}{(d)}}{Sin}\;{c\left( {{- \pi}/2} \right)}} + {I_{c}{Sin}\; c(0)} +} \\ {I_{{+ 3}{(d)}}{Sin}\;{c\left( {\pi/2} \right)}} \end{matrix}}{1 + {2\;{Sin}\;{c\left( {\pi/2} \right)}}}}}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu}(5)} \end{matrix}$

Where the weight w is based on the panchromatic pixels 704 as follows:

-   -   w=e^((−(P) ^(c) ^(−0.5(P) ^(−1(d)) ^(+P) ^(−1(d)) ⁾⁾ ² ^(/σ)         ^(d) ² ⁾     -   σ_(d) ² is the average of:     -   (P_(c)−0.5(P_(−1(d))+P_(+1(d))))²     -   over the entire panchromatic image;     -   d represents the four directions defined as 0°, 45°, 90°, and         135°; and     -   Sine(x)=sin(x)/x is a convolution operator applied to the pixel         I_(c) being blurred.

In Equation (5), the value of I_(c) is iteratively calculated for each direction d as defined above. Thus, it will be appreciated that the blurring is directionally dependent. Moreover, the blurring of the fused image is dependent on the radiance values of the pixels in the panchromatic image. More particularly, the weighting factor w is dependent on the second derivative of the panchromatic pixel radiance values.

Referring now to FIG. 8, blurring step 220 is shown in greater detail. The blurring process can begin in step 802 with the selection of a pixel I_(c) from the fused image on which the blurring operation is to be performed. The pixel for beginning the process is not important since all of the pixels from the fused image will ultimately be blurred. Accordingly, the blurring process can begin with any arbitrary pixel I_(c) from the fused image. In step 804, a blurred radiance value is calculated for the pixel for arbitrary pixel I_(c) for direction d. The blurred radiance value of pixel I_(c) for direction d is calculated using Equation (5) as described above.

In step 806, a determination is made as to whether the blurred radiance value of pixel I_(c) has been calculated for each of the directions defined as 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°. If not, the value of d is incremented by 45° in step 808. Thereafter, the process returns to step 804 in which the blurred radiance value is calculated for pixel I_(c) for the next direction d. The process continues in this way, repeatedly modifying or updating the blurred radiance value for pixel each time the blurring process is performed in a different direction d until a final blurred radiance value for pixel I_(c) is obtained. Thereafter, the process continues on to step 810.

In the embodiment of the invention described herein, the directions are defined as 0°, 45°, 90°, and 135°, and the value of d is therefore incremented by 45° in step 808 in order to transition from one direction to another. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the directions as stated. For example, certain arrangements of pixels could allow for additional directions beyond those already identified. Accordingly, the invention is not limited to the particular directions described herein.

In step 810, a determination is made as to whether blurred radiance values have been calculated for all pixels in the fused image, if not, then the process continues on to step 812 in which the next pixel in the fused image is selected. For example, the next pixel I_(c) selected for blurring can be a next adjacent pixel in the image in a row or column of pixels. The process thereafter returns to step 804 through 806 where a blurred radiance value is calculated for each direction. The process can continue in this way, row by row, and column by column, until a blurred value has been calculated for all pixels in the image. When all pixels in the fused image have been blurred using this technique, the process terminates in step 814 and thereafter returns to step 222.

It should be noted that the flowchart in FIG. 8 and the description herein provide that the blurred radiance value for a particular pixel is calculated for each direction before proceeding on to the next pixel. However, the invention is not limited in this regard. In an alternative arrangement, a blurred radiance value could be calculated for all pixels in the fused image in a first direction. Thereafter, the process could calculate blurred radiance values for ail pixels in the fused image in a second direction. This process could be repeated until all pixels in the image have been blurred in all directions.

All of the apparatus, methods and algorithms disclosed and claimed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those of skill in the art that variations may be applied to the apparatus, methods and sequence of steps of the method without departing from the concept, spirit and scope of the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain components may be added to, combined with, or substituted for the components described herein while the same or similar results would be achieved. All such similar substitutes and modifications apparent to those skilled in the art are deemed to be within the spirit, scope and concept of the invention as defined. 

1. A method for creating a fused image from an image pair comprising a panchromatic image and a multi-spectral image, comprising: obtaining image data defining a first image of a panchromatic image type, said first image having a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution; obtaining image data defining a second image of a multi-spectral image type, said second image having a second spatial resolution lower than said first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than said first spectral resolution; simultaneously solving a matrix equation for determining (a) a set of spectral calibration weights for all available multi-spectral bands of said second image for spectrally down-sampling the second image to the spectral response of said first image, and (b) a set of spatial point spread function weights for spatially down-sampling a pixel geometry of said first image to a pixel geometry of said second image; fusing said first image and said second image to initialize a fused image having said first spatial resolution and said second spectral resolution; using at least one set of weights determined with said matrix equation for determining if pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of one of the first and second image; and blurring at least one pixel comprising said fused image based on radiance values of at least one pixel comprising said first image.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said blurring step comprises an anisotropic blurring of said at least one pixel comprising fused image.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said blurring step comprises: selecting a pixel from a plurality of pixels comprising said fused image, said pixel having a geometric location in said fused image; identifying a corresponding pixel in said first image which has a geometric location within said first image that is the same as a geometric location of said pixel in said fused image; calculating a blurred radiance value for said pixel based on a radiance value of at least one adjacent pixel that is adjacent to said corresponding pixel.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising repeating said blurring step for each of said plurality of pixels comprising said fused image.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein said blurring step further comprises: calculating said blurred radiance value based on a radiance value of a pair of said adjacent pixels.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said blurring step further comprises selecting said pair of adjacent pixels to be pixels located on opposing sides of said corresponding pixel.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said blurring step further comprises selecting said pair of adjacent pixels to be aligned with said corresponding pixel in a first defined direction.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said blurring step further comprises subsequently recalculating said blurred radiance value based on at least a second pair of adjacent pixels aligned with said corresponding pixel in at least a second defined direction different from said first direction.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein said blurred radiance value of said center pixel is calculated for each of four different radial directions relative to said center pixel.
 10. The method according to claim 9, wherein each of said four radial directions are selected to be angularly spaced from one another by an equal amount.
 11. A system for creating a fused image from an image pair comprising a panchromatic image and a multi-spectral image, comprising: a data store for storing image data defining a first image of a panchromatic image type, said first image having a first spatial resolution and a first spectral resolution, and image data defining a second image of a multi-spectral image type, said second image having a second spatial resolution lower than said first spatial resolution and a second spectral resolution higher than said first spectral resolution; and processing means configured for: simultaneously solving a matrix equation for determining (a) a set of spectral calibration weights for all available multi-spectral bands of said second image for spectrally down-sampling the second image to the spectral response of said first image, and (b) a set of spatial point spread function weights for spatially down-sampling a pixel geometry of said first image to a pixel geometry of said second image; fusing said first image and said second image to initialize a fused image having said first spatial resolution and said second spectral resolution; using a first set of weights obtained with said matrix equation to determine if said pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of one of the first and second image; and blurring at least one pixel comprising said fused image based on a radiance value of at least one pixel comprising said first image.
 12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing means is configured for performing an anisotropic blurring of said at least one pixel comprising fused image.
 13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing means further comprises means for: selecting a pixel from a plurality of pixels comprising said fused image, said pixel having a geometric location in said fused image; identifying a corresponding pixel in said first image which has a geometric location within said first image that is the same as a geometric location of said pixel in said fused image; calculating a blurred radiance value for said pixel based on a radiance value of at least one adjacent pixel that is adjacent to said corresponding pixel.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing means is configured for blurring each of said plurality of pixels comprising said fused image.
 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said processing means is configured for calculating said blurred radiance value based on a radiance value of a pair of said adjacent pixels.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said processing means is configured for selecting said pair of adjacent pixels to be pixels located on opposing sides of said corresponding pixel.
 17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said processing means is configured for selecting said pair of adjacent pixels to be aligned with said corresponding pixel in a first defined direction.
 18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said processing means is configured for subsequently recalculating said blurred radiance value based on at least a second pair of adjacent pixels aligned with said corresponding pixel in at least a second defined direction different from said first direction.
 19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said processing means is configured for calculating said blurred radiance value of said center pixel for each of four different radial directions relative to said center pixel.
 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein each of said four radial directions are angularly spaced from one another by an equal amount.
 21. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adjusting said pixel radiance values of said fused image if they are not consistent with the pixel radiance values of one of the first and second image.
 22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising selecting said first set of weights to be said set of spatial point spread function weights and wherein said determining step comprises determining if said pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of the second image.
 23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising using said spectral calibration weights for determining if said pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of the first image.
 24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising adjusting said pixel radiance values of said fused image if they are not consistent with the pixel radiance values of the first image.
 25. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing means is further configured for adjusting said pixel radiance values of said fused image to be consistent with the pixel radiance values of one of the first and second image.
 26. The system according to claim 25, wherein said first set of weights is said set of spatial point spread function weights, and wherein said processing means is configured to determine if said pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of the second image.
 27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said processing means is further configured to use said spectral calibration weights for determining if said pixel radiance values of said fused image are consistent with the pixel radiance values of the first image.
 28. The system according to claim 27, wherein said processing means is further configured to adjusting said pixel radiance values of said fused image if they are not consistent with the pixel radiance values of the first image. 